Wrench.



No. 743,360. PATENTED Roi 7. a, 1903. M. WENGER.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1902.

HOVMODEL.

6 Yl V f witnesses Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON \VENGER, OF NEIV HOLLAND, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,360, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed November 22, 1902. Serial No. 132,354. (No model. I

To all whom it may GOTLCLJ'ZL.

zen of the United States,and a resident of New Holland, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches, andhas for its object :to produce a wrench which while it is easily and quickly adjusted canbe so locked in such adjusted position that it cannot be easily released therefrom by use or accident.

It also has for its object to produce a wrench of the said character which while consisting of but few parts will be of easy and inexpensive construction.

It has also for its object to producea wrench of such strength and simplicity that it will not in use be easily broken, deranged, or got out of order.

It also has for its object divers other novel features, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The nature of the invention consists in the application to mechanism of novel construction of a sliding lock adapted and arranged to hold the parts of the device in proper position.

The nature of the invention also consists and antifriction devices to the adjusting mechanism of the said wrench.

The invention also consists in divers other novel features, which will be fully understood from the following general description and the annexed drawings and will be subsequently pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of my newly-invented wrench with a part of the yoke broken away to better illustrate the construction of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view more fully hereinafter described.

Corresponding parts in both iigures are donoted by the same reference characters.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the fixed jaw of the wrench, and 2 the shank or handle thcrcol' integral therewith. In this shank is cut a rack comprising a series of teeth, (illustrated by 25.) This jaw and shank may be of any convenient and applicable construction; but I prefer the form here illustrated. r

i designates a yoke, which is formed and arranged to move on the shank 2. The movable jaw 5 is integral with and, forrnsapart of this yoke. The arm 6 is also integral therewith and a part thereof. Between this arm 6 and the parts of the yoke adjacent to the said movable jaw 5 there is an open space or slot, (designated by 7.) In the wall of this opening adjacent to the said sliding jaw is formed a conical countersink, (designated by 8.) The opposite wall of this opening is bored with a cylindrical hole, (designated by 9.) The arm' 6 is also bored with a hole 10, which is tapped with a screw-thread to accommodate the screw 11.

12 designates the adjusting-screw. This is cut with a long thread of proper pitch toengage the rack 23. The outer faces of these threads are knurled or, serrated to allow for a firm grip of the fingers of the operator for turning the said screw. This screw 12 is formed at its forward end with a conical shank 13, adapted to fit into the conical countersink 8 and to be revolved therein- This adjust ing-screw is also bored with a cylindrical hole 14: parallel to its axis. In this hollow are placed the ball 16 and the helical spring 15, arranged as illustrated in the drawings. The plug 18 is adapted for and fits into the hole 9, where it is securely held by the screw 11. This plug is formed with a cylindrical tine 17, which reaches into the hollow 11 of the said adjusting-screw 12, so that the said screw is revolubly pivoted on the said tine 17 and the conical shank'13.

18 designates a locking device, which is mounted on the spring 19 and adapted and arranged to engage the knurls or serrations on the adjustingscrew 12 whenever it is required to prevent the same from turning.

In the. practice of my invention the jaws are opened and closed in the same way that wrenches of this class are usually operated. It will be observed, however, that while the spring 15, interposed between the bottom of the bore l-L and the ball 16, by its resilience causes the tine 13 to constantly press into the countersink 8, still the operation of the ball 16 will be such as to temper the frictional re-- sistancc, so that the screw can be readily op -nntil it is released.

erated. When the wrenchhas been closed upon anut or other object which it is to turn, it the locking device be brought into engagement with the screw 12 it will hold such a screw from turning so firmly that the jaws of the wrench cannot move any farther apart To operate the locking device, it has only to be pressed againstthe screw. As soon as the pressure is removed the resilience of the spring 19 will lift it from the screw, and so the screw will be unlocked and free to turn.

Aside from what is herein set forth this wrench is to be used in the common and well known Way.

I do notlimit myself to the precise construc tion and arrangement herein set forth, as it is evident from the scope of my invention that I am entitled to slight variations of structure and arrangement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pa,t' ent- 1. In a wrench, the combination with a stationary jaw, a handle integral therewith, and a rack upon said handle, or" a yoke moving upon said handle, integral with and carrying a movable jaw, a revoluble screw mounted in said yoke and meshing with the teeth of said rack and a normally disengaged locking dey vice adapted to be engaged by the hand in using the wrench to turning.

2. In a wrench, the combination with a stationary jaw, a handle integral therewith, arack upon said handle, and a yoke adaptedto. move onsaid handle and formed with an opening, an arm and a movable jaw substantially as specified, of a hollow screw having serrated faces on the threads thereof monnt-. ed in said yoke and meshing with the teeth of said rack, and a locking device adapted and arranged to engage the serrations of said screw and to prevent said screw from turning.

3. In a wrench, the combination with a stationaryjaw, and a handle integral therewith, a rack out on said handle and a yoke formed with an arm and an opening bored with a cyprevent said screw from lindri al hole and a countersink as specified,

and adapted and arranged to move on said handle, of ahollow rack-engaging screw having the faces of its threads serrated, formed with a conical tine at one end,,and mounted in said yoke with said conical tine bearingin said countersink, a pin resting in said cylindrical hole, and reaching into the hollow of said screw, and a locking device adapted and arranged to engage the serrations of said thread, and so prevent said screw from turn-- 4. Ina wrench, the combination with astationary jaw, and a handle integral therewith, a rack on said handle and ayoke formed with a jaw, an arm and an opening, bored with a cylindrical hole and a countersink as specified and adapted and arranged to move on said handle, of a hollow screw having exterior threads engaging the rack and having its peripheral thread-surfaces serrated, said screw having a conical tine at one end and being mounted in said yoke with said conical tine bearing in said countersink, a pin extending into the hole in the screw and constituting a supporting-bearing therefor, a spring in the hollow of said screw, anantifrictionball in said hollow interposed between said spring and said pin, and a locking device attached to said yoke and adapted and-arranged to prevent said screw from turning.

5. In a wrench, the combination with a stationary jaw and a handle integral therewith, a rack upon ssrc handle, and a yoke adapted to move on said handle, and carrying a jaw, of a revoluble screw mounted in said yoke and meshing with the teeth of said rack, a spring attached to said yoke, a locking device mounted on said spring, and normally held inoperative thereby, said locking devices being adapted to engage the said screw to prevent .it from turning.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

MILTON WENGER.

\Vitnesses:

L. M. STORE, JAMES SILLER, 

